NASOLABIAL FLAP IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF FLOOR OF THE MOUTH DEFECTS

Defects caused by tumour excision in the floor of the mouth can be clo sed by different methods. We present thirteen cases treated in our dep artment over the last seven years in whom naso-labial flaps were used. Twelve patients had squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth and one had fibro-sarcoma of the right lower mandible. Five received post-operative radiotherapy, one was resected following radiotherapy a nd seven were treated with surgery alone. Patient selection is importa nt to give good functional results without compromising tumour clearan ce.